Journal of Liver Cancer

Jong Young Choi

29 Articles

The efficacy of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients: Han Ah Lee, Sangheun Lee, Hae Lim Lee, Jeong Eun Song, Dong Hyeon Lee, Sojung Han, Ju Hyun Shim, Bo Hyun Kim, Jong Young Choi, Hyunchul Rhim, Do Young Kim; J Liver Cancer. 2023;23(2):362-376. Published online September 14, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.2023.08.03

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background/Aim
Despite the increasing proportion of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over time, treatment efficacy in this population is not well established.
Methods
Data collected from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry, a representative cohort of patients newly diagnosed with HCC in Korea between 2008 and 2017, were analyzed. Overall survival (OS) according to tumor stage and treatment modality was compared between elderly and non-elderly patients with HCC.
Results
Among 15,186 study patients, 5,829 (38.4%) were elderly. A larger proportion of elderly patients did not receive any treatment for HCC than non-elderly patients (25.2% vs. 16.7%). However, OS was significantly better in elderly patients who received treatment compared to those who did not (median, 38.6 vs. 22.3 months; P<0.001). In early-stage HCC, surgery yielded significantly lower OS in elderly patients compared to non-elderly patients (median, 97.4 vs. 138.0 months; P<0.001), however, local ablation (median, 82.2 vs. 105.5 months) and transarterial therapy (median, 42.6 vs. 56.9 months) each provided comparable OS between the two groups after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis (all P>0.05). After IPTW, in intermediate-stage HCC, surgery (median, 66.0 vs. 90.3 months) and transarterial therapy (median, 36.5 vs. 37.2 months), and in advanced-stage HCC, transarterial (median, 25.3 vs. 26.3 months) and systemic therapy (median, 25.3 vs. 26.3 months) yielded comparable OS between the elderly and non-elderly HCC patients (all P>0.05).
Conclusions
Personalized treatments tailored to individual patients can improve the prognosis of elderly patients with HCC to a level comparable to that of non-elderly patients.

Multidisciplinary approach for hepatocellular carcinoma arising from cirrhotic liver with Budd-Chiari syndrome: a case report: Sangmi Kim, Ji Hoon Kim, Ji Won Han, Jeong Won Jang, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Pil Soo Sung; J Liver Cancer. 2022;22(2):202-206. Published online September 20, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.2022.09.17

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Abstract PDF: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is defined by the obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow between the small hepatic veins and the junction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with the right atrium. BCS with IVC obstruction occasionally progresses to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we report the case of a patient with HCC arising from a cirrhotic liver with BCS, in whom the hepatic portion of the IVC was obstructed, and who had a favorable outcome with a multidisciplinary approach and IVC balloon angioplasty.

Diagnostic performance of serum exosomal miRNA-720 in hepatocellular carcinoma: Jeong Won Jang, Ji Min Kim, Hye Seon Kim, Jin Seoub Kim, Ji Won Han, Soon Kyu Lee, Heechul Nam, Pil Soo Sung, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon; J Liver Cancer. 2022;22(1):30-39. Published online March 21, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.2022.02.25

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background/Aim
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with poor prognosis, largely due to late detection. Highly accurate biomarkers are urgently needed to detect early-stage HCC. Our study aims to explore the diagnostic performance of serum exosomal microRNA (miR)-720 in HCC.
Methods
Exosomal miRNA was measured via quantitative real-time PCR. A correlation analysis of exosomal miR-720 and tumor or clinico-demographic data of patients with HCC was performed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic capacity of serum exosomal miR-720 for HCC, in comparison with α-fetoprotein (AFP) and prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II).
Results
MiR-720 was chosen as a potential HCC marker via miR microarray based on significant differential expression between tumor and non-tumor samples. Serum exosomal miR-720 was significantly upregulated in patients with HCC (n=114) versus other liver diseases (control, n=30), with a higher area under the ROC curve (AUC=0.931) than the other markers. Particularly, serum exosomal miR-720 showed superior performance in diagnosing small HCC (< 5 cm; AUC=0.930) compared with AFP (AUC=0.802) or PIVKA-II (AUC=0.718). Exosomal miR-720 levels showed marginal correlation with tumor size. The proportion of elevated miR-720 also increased with intrahepatic tumor stage progression. Unlike AFP or PIVKA-II showing a significant correlation with aminotransferase levels, the exosomal miR-720 level was not affected by aminotransferase levels.
Conclusions
Serum exosomal miR-720 is an excellent biomarker for the diagnosis of HCC, with better performance than AFP or PIVKA-II. Its diagnostic utility is maintained even in small HCC and is unaffected by aminotransferase levels.

Infiltration of T Cells and Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1-expressing Macrophages as a Potential Predictor of Lenvatinib Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Pil Soo Sung, Sung Woo Cho, Jaejun Lee, Hyun Yang, Jeong Won Jang, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon; J Liver Cancer. 2020;20(2):128-134. Published online September 30, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.20.2.128

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6 Citations

Abstract PDF

Background/Aim
s: Lenvatinib was recently proven to be non-inferior to sorafenib in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a phase-3 randomized controlled trial. In this study, we investigated whether the response to lenvatinib was affected by tumor immunogenicity.
Methods
Between May 2019 and April 2020, nine patients with intermediate-to-advanced HCC, who were treated with lenvatinib after liver biopsy, were enrolled. Immunohistochemical staining and multi-color flow cytometry were performed on specimens obtained from liver biopsy.
Results
Among the nine patients enrolled, four showed objective responses (complete responses+partial responses). Immunohistochemical staining for CD3, CD68, and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) demonstrated that patients with objective responses showed marked infiltration of T cells and PD-L1-expressing macrophages in intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral tissues compared to those without objective responses. A significant difference in the numbers of infiltrated T cells, both in the intra-tumoral (P<0.01) and peri-tumoral regions (P<0.05), were identified between responders and non-responders. Regarding the number of infiltrated macrophages, no significant difference was found between the responders and non-responders, although the number of PD-L1-expressing tumor-associated macrophages was significantly higher in responders than that in non-responders (P<0.05).
Conclusions
Tumor immunogenicity, as indicated by T cell and PD-L1-positive macrophage infiltration, affects lenvatinib response in unresectable HCC.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Higher Number of Tumor-Infiltrating PD-L1+ Cells Is Related to Better Response to Multikinase Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Ji Won Han, Ji Hoon Kim, Dong Hyun Kim, Jeong Won Jang, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Jaegyoon Ahn, Hyun Yang, Pil Soo Sung
Diagnostics.2023; 13(8): 1453. CrossRef
Intrahepatic inflammatory IgA+PD-L1high monocytes in hepatocellular carcinoma development and immunotherapy
Pil Soo Sung, Dong Jun Park, Pu Reun Roh, Kyoung Do Mun, Sung Woo Cho, Gil Won Lee, Eun Sun Jung, Sung Hak Lee, Jeong Won Jang, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Jonghwan Choi, Jaegyoon Ahn, Seung Kew Yoon
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.2022; 10(5): e003618. CrossRef
Crosstalk between tumor-associated macrophages and neighboring cells in hepatocellular carcinoma
Pil Soo Sung
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology.2022; 28(3): 333. CrossRef
Blood-based biomarkers for immune-based therapy in advanced HCC: Promising but a long way to go
Pil Soo Sung, Isaac Kise Lee, Pu Reun Roh, Min Woo Kang, Jaegyoon Ahn, Seung Kew Yoon
Frontiers in Oncology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Immunological Mechanisms for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk after Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Pil Soo Sung, Eui-Cheol Shin
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2021; 10(2): 221. CrossRef
Preferential Expression of Programmed Death Ligand 1 Protein in Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Its Potential Role in Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Dong-Jun Park, Pil-Soo Sung, Gil-Won Lee, Sung-Woo Cho, Sung-Min Kim, Byung-Yoon Kang, Won-Hee Hur, Hyun Yang, Soon-Kyu Lee, Sung-Hak Lee, Eun-Sun Jung, Chang-Ho Seo, Joseph Ahn, Ho-Joong Choi, Young-Kyoung You, Jeong-Won Jang, Si-Hyun Bae, Jong-Young Cho
International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2021; 22(9): 4710. CrossRef

Successful Sequential Therapy Involving Regorafenib after Failure of Sorafenib in a Patient with Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation: Soon Kyu Lee, Jeong Won Jang, Heechul Nam, Pil Soo Sung, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon; J Liver Cancer. 2020;20(1):84-89. Published online March 31, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.20.1.84

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Abstract PDF: The efficacy and safety of sequential systemic therapy for the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT) are not well established. This study describes a successful experience where sequential therapy with sorafenib followed by regorafenib was used to treat recurrent HCC in a 54-year old male LT recipient. After HCC recurred in both lungs 10 months after LT, sorafenib was administered with radiation therapy to treat pulmonary metastases. However, after 4 months of sorafenib treatment showed progressive pulmonary metastases, sequential regorafenib treatment was started. After 3 months (cycles) of regorafenib treatment, tumor response was partial, and after 6 months (cycles), disease status remained stable without signs of progression or drug-related serious adverse events. This case suggests that sequential systemic therapy is feasible in patient with recurrent HCC after LT.

Liver Transplantation after Successful Downstaging with Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: Hee Chul Nam, Pil Soo Sung, Ho Jong Chun, Dong Goo Kim, Jeong Won Jang, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon; J Liver Cancer. 2019;19(1):64-68. Published online March 31, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.19.1.64

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Abstract PDF: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The majority of patients with HCC are diagnosed at advanced disease stages with vascular invasion, where curative approaches are often not feasible. Currently, sorafenib is the only available standard therapy for HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). However, in many cases, sorafenib therapy fails to achieve satisfactory results in clinical practice. We present a case of advanced HCC with PVTT that was treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) followed by liver transplantation. Three cycles of HAIC treatment resulted in necrotic changes in most of the tumors, and PVTT was reduced to an extent at which liver transplantation was possible. Further studies are required to determine the treatment strategies for advanced HCC with PVTT that can improve prognosis.

High-level Expression of Interleukin-17 and C-reactive Protein Predicts Tumor Progression in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated by Transarterial Chemoembolization: Myeong Jun Song, Sung Won Lee, Eun-Jee Oh, Bohyun Jang, Jeong Won Jang, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon; J Liver Cancer. 2016;16(2):108-117. Published online September 30, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.16.2.108

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Abstract PDF: Background/Aim
s: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the standard locoregional treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Angiogenesis and inflammation play important roles in tumor growth in HCC. In this study, we evaluated the associations between the levels of growth factors and inflammatory markers and clinical prognosis in patients with unresectable HCC treated with TACE.
Methods
The clinical outcomes of 58 HCC patients treated with TACE at the Catholic Medical Centers from January, 2012 to February 2015 were evaluated. Baseline levels of the growth factors vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor and the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-17 and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were compared with the treatment outcomes. The primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP); the secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS).
Results
During the 20.8 months of follow-up, TTP was significantly delayed in patients with low levels of hs-CRP (≤0.15) and IL-17 (≤0.94) and a maximal tumor diameter ≤5 cm (P =0.010, P =0.015, and 0.048, respectively). Patients with HCC with low hs-CRP and IL-17 levels had a longer survival than that of those with high hs-CRP levels and IL-17 (35.1 vs. 22.5 months, P =0.000; 41 vs. 21.8 months, P =0.000, respectively). However, any baseline growth factors were not significantly correlated with TTP and OS.
Conclusions
Elevated IL-17 and hs-CRP may be predictive of a poor outcome in patients with HCC treated with TACE. A better understanding of this relationship will require further investigation of the immune mechanisms underlying tumor progression.

A Case of Complete Response by Multidisciplinary Management in a Patient with Solitary Bone Metastasis after Curative Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Seawon Hwang, Hyun Yang, Hae Lim Lee, Jeong Won Jang, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon; J Liver Cancer. 2016;16(1):52-56. Published online March 31, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.16.1.52

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Abstract PDF: Despite recent advances in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prognosis of patients with extrahepatic metastasis from HCC still remains dismal. The current study presents a case of HCC that was metastatic to the pelvis and describes successful treatment with multidisciplinary approach to the skeletal metastasis. The patient was a 67-year-old male who presented with right pelvic pain 28 months following right hepatectomy for HCC. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging indicated a solitary bone metastasis without intrahepatic recurrence. Complete response was achieved with multidisciplinary management including sorafenib, transarterial embolization, surgery to remove the metastatic mass and radiotherapy after surgery. A post-operative follow-up 15 months later found that the patient remained in good health with maintained complete response. This case suggests that a multidisciplinary approach can achieve long-term cancer-free survival and prolonged life expectancy beyond palliative care for patients with solitary bone metastasis after curative surgery for HCC.

A Case of Combination Therapy Using Radioembolization and Transarterial Chemoembolization with Drug-eluting Beads in Bilobar Hepatocellular Carcinomas: Hee Yeon Kim, Chung-Hwa Park, Do Seon Song, Myeong Jun Song, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Si Hyun Bae, Ho Jung Chun; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2012;12(2):128-132. Published online September 30, 2012

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Abstract PDF: Bilobar multifocal hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) can be treated with transarterial radioembolization in a sequential lobar, or whole liver manner. However, radioembolization could result in a risk of radiation-induced liver toxicity in patients with reduced functional reserve. Here we describe a case with bilobar HCCs successfully treated with a combination therapy using radioembolization and transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads without significant side effects. A 72-year-old female with liver cirrhosis was diagnosed of hepatocellular carcinoma with bilobar involvement. The main mass in the left lobe was treated with radioembolization while the other lesion in the right lobe was treated with transarterial chemoembolization using drug-eluting beads, and the patient was tolerable. A combination of radioembolization and selective transarterial chemoem- bolization may be considered for an alternative option in patients with bilobar multifocal HCCs with decreased liver function.

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma which Showed Response to Transarterial Chemoembolization with DC Bead® in the Patient who Showed No Response to Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization: Do Seon Song, Hee Yeon Kim, Myeong Jun Song, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Ho Jong Chun; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2012;12(2):133-136. Published online September 30, 2012

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Abstract PDF: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most important cause of cancer death in South Korea. Approximately two thirds of the HCC patients are diagnosed in the unresectable stage. Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) showed survival benefit in the unresectable HCC patients, but it had some limitations, such as low response rate and systemic toxicity. Drug eluting bead has been reported low systemic toxicity and higher tumor necrosis rate. We report a case which showed response to TACE with DC bead in patient that showed no response to conventional TACE.

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a 10 Year Old Child Treated with Yttrium Radioembolization and Transarterial Chemoembolization: Sung Won Lee, Hee Yeon Kim, Do Seon Song, Chung-Hwa Park, Myeong Jun Song, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Jung Suk Oh, Ho Jong Chun, Si Hyun Bae; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2012;12(2):137-140. Published online September 30, 2012

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Abstract PDF: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in childhood is rare but is the second most common malignant liver neoplasm after hepatoblastoma in children. Surgical resectability is the foundation of curative therapy but only one third of newly diagnosed HCCs are resectable, and unresectable HCC remains largely unresponsive to systemic chemotherapy. In all reported series of HCC in children, therapeutic results are poor with overall survival less than 30%. Systemic chemotherapy is only partially effective but if preoperative downstaging can be achieved, it would result in a higher survival rate. There are scarce data regarding local ablative treatments such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and therefore survival benefits are still unclear. TACE may be considered as a therapeutic alternative in cases of unresectable tumors after systemic chemotherapy or in unresectable, non-metastatic HCCs. The use of orthotopic liver transplantation in childhood HCC remains controversial. Radioembolization is a mode of treatment that aims to selectively target radiation to all liver tumors using yttrium-90 microspheres while limiting the dose to normal liver parenchyma. It may be considered as another treatment option in childhood HCC with the purpose of preoperative downstaging but further studies are required to determine the treatment benefits and safety of radioembolization treatment.

A Case of Progressive Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis after Percutaneous Transhepatic Obliteration in Infiltrative Hepatocellular Carcinomaswith Portal Vein Thrombosis: Hee Yeon Kim, Chung-Hwa Park, Sung won Lee, Do Seon Song, Myeong Jun Song, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Si Hyun Bae, Jung Suk Oh, Ho Jong Chun; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2012;12(2):146-150. Published online September 30, 2012

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Abstract PDF: Percutaneous transhepatic obliteration of gastroesophageal varices is one of the effective emergency procedure when endoscopic therapy is not indicated or has been failed. One of the major complications of this procedure is portal thrombosis. A 53-year-old male with hepatitis B virus infection was diagnosed of infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma with right portal vein thrombosis. On the next day after being hospitalization, the patient developed variceal bleeding. With medical management, endoscopic therapy was initially attempted, however, it ended in failure. Emergency percutaneous transhepatic obliteration of bleeding gastroesophageal varices was considered as a next option. Bleeding from gastroesophageal varices was stopped after percutaneous obliateration, however, portal thrombosis was extended to splenic vein or superior mesenteric veins.

A Case of Liver Transplantation after Combination of Sorafenib and Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in the Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient with Portal Vein Thrombosis: Do Seon Song, Myeong Jun Song, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Ho Jong Chun, Dong Goo Kim; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2012;12(1):62-66. Published online February 28, 2012

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Abstract PDF: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common malignancy in Korea where chronic hepatitis B virus is prevalent. More than 60-70% of HCC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage that are not eligible for curative therapy such as surgical resection, liver transplantation, radiofrequency ablation, and percutaneous ethanol injection. According to Barcellona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging and treatment, standard treatment of advanced HCC is sorafenib. And there are some reports that hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) could be a beneficial therapeutic option for patients with advanced HCC. We report a case of advanced HCC with portal vein thrombosis that received liver transplantation after combination treatment of HAIC and sorafenib.

Conus Medullaris Syndrome after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Sun Hong Yoo, Si Hyun Bae, Pil Soo Sung, Hee Yeon Kim, Do Seon Song, Myeong Jun Song, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Ho Jong Chun; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2011;11(2):185-189. Published online September 30, 2011

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Abstract PDF: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cancer in Korea and a common cause of cancer death. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is used as palliative therapy for patients with inoperable HCC. TACE is an effective treatments for inoperable HCC, but variable complications due to using embolic agents can occur after TACE. Complications due to embolic agents include pulmonary lipiodol embolism, splenic infarction, cerebral lipiodol infarction, and spinal cord injury. This is a rare case of spinal cord injury after a sixth TACE via right T9 intercostal artery.

From Down Staging to Curative Treatment: Based on Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in a Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient: Chung-Hwa Park, Myung Joon Song, Seung Kew Yoon, Jong Young Choi, Si Hyun Bae; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2011;11(1):46-49. Published online February 28, 2011

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Abstract PDF: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is performed in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in which locoregional therapeutic methods such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) could not be the best choice. Sorafenib, the only approved systemic chemotherapeutic agent for HCC, improves survival rate, but is associated with a low tumor response rate. Thus combining these therapeutic modalities to treat HCC in advanced stage may help downstaging and leading to better treatment results without taking risk for hepatic failure. Here we report a case treated to a complete remission by combining HAIC, PEI and sorafenib.

A Case of Complete Remission in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Metronomic Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy: Myeong Jon Song, CHung-Hwa Park, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Ho Jong Chun; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2010;10(1):35-39. Published online June 30, 2010

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Abstract PDF: A 53-year-old man patient was admitted for evaluation of abdominal pain. Liver dynamic CT showed infiltrative type mass in right hepatic angle with arterial enhancement and rapid washout. Also low density tumor thrombus is filled with in right portal vein. He was diagnosed HCC (UICC stage IVa) with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class B). With the sixth cycle of metronomic hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy for infiltrative mass, HCC showed no stain in hepatic angiography and tumor marker are normalized at seven month from initial diagnosis.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosed with Metastatic Lesion of the Cervical Spine: Chung-Hwa Park, Myeong Jun Song, Hee Yeon Kim, Si Hyun Bae, Seung Kew Yoon, Jong Young Choi; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2010;10(1):61-63. Published online June 30, 2010

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Abstract PDF: Bone metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are usually treated with non-operative procedures such as radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, bisphosphonates, or sometimes with surgical procedures. Here we describe a case with 3rd cervical spine metastasis of HCC. A 62-year-old female with liver cirrhosis presented with neck pain. After evaluation, the patient was diagnosed of hepatocellular carcinoma with cervical spine metastasis. The metastatic lesion was treated with tomotherapy while the primary lesion in the liver was treated with transarterial chemoembolization using drug-eluting beads, and the patient is tolerable waiting for the next treatment.

Early Intrahepatic Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Metastasis to Lung and Brain after Radiofrequency Ablation: Jin Dong Kim, Jung Hyun Kwon, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Young Jun Lee, Sung Eun Rha, Ho Jong Chun, Byung Gil Choi, Hae Giu Lee; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2009;9(1):37-40. Published online June 30, 2009

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Abstract PDF: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the preferred method of local ablation for patients with small (<3 cm sized) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when surgical resection cannot be applied. If RFA procedure is sufficiently completed, it provides lower local tumor recurrence, and longer overall as well as disease-free survival. We experienced a case of early stage HCC which recurred at 2 months after successful RFA procedure, and rapidly metastasized to lung and brain.

Rapid recurrence following living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria: Hyun Young Woo, Jin Dong Kim, Jung Hyun Kwon, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Sung Eun Rha, Jae Young Byun, Ho Jong Chun, Byung Gil Choi, Hae Kyu Lee, Young Kyoung You, Dong Gu Kim; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2009;9(1):45-48. Published online June 30, 2009

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Abstract PDF: Liver transplantation is curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma especially if ,within Milan criteria, 4 year survival and recurrence-free survival was reported to be 85% and 92%, respectively. Herein we report a patient who experience rapid recurrence following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria. A 52 year-old-men patient with known liver cirrhosis associated with hepatitis B virus was admitted for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Abdominal CT revealed two nodules less than 3 cm in right hepatic lobe. After single session of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), the patient underwent LDLT. After seven months following transplantation, recurrent HCC was detected on transplanted liver with concurrent metastatic nodule in lung. Although TACE and metastsectomy were performed for recurrent intrahepatic mass and lung metastasis, recurrent HCC showed rapid progression and patient died of progressive tumor after 10 months following LDLT.

Treatment of Massive Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Invasion: Jung Hyun Kwon, Jong Young Choi, Jin Dong Kim, Hyun Young Woo, Si Hyun Bae, Seung Kew Yoon, Young Jun Lee, Ho Jong Chun; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2009;9(1):53-58. Published online June 30, 2009

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Abstract PDF: A 52 year-old-man patient was admitted for evaluation of hepatic mass which was detected on screening ultrasonography. His abdominal CT showed a massive infiltrating mass in left hepatic lobe and another 2.4 cm nodule in S6 of Rt. Hepatic lobe with arterial enhancement and rapid wash out underlying liver cirrhosis. Also, low density tumor thrombus are filled in Lt. portal vein and extended into main portal vein. He was finally diagnosed HCC (UICC stage IVa) with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A) and hepatitis B. With the four times of trasnarterial chemo-lipiodolization and seven times of intraarterial infusion chemotherapy for huge mass and one time Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for daughter nodule, his HCC showed no stain in hepatic angiogram at nine month from initial diagnosis. After additional eight times of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy, new small nodule developed in S6 and was ablated with RFA. At eighteen months after initial diagnosis, he shows no viable lesion on the imaging study and tumor markers are normalized.

A Case of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Twenties Treated by Multimodality Therapy: Jang Eun Lee, Na Ri Yoon, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Dong Goo Kim, Ho Jong Chun, Byung Gil Choi, Hae Giu Lee, Hong Seok Jang, Chan Kwon Jung, Eun Sun Jang; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2009;9(1):82-85. Published online June 30, 2009

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Abstract PDF: The prognosis of young patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is remains controversial. Here we report a case of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in twenty, successfully treated with transarterial chemolipidolization (TACL), systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical resection. Previously healthy 28 years old woman was admitted for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdominal CT showed a diffuse infiltrative HCC involving both lobes with intrahepatic bile duct invasion and pericardial lymphadenopathy. She was treated TAC with systemic chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy. 6 months after these treatments, main tumor and the pericardial lymph node were decreased in size. And then extended left lobectomy and systemic chemotherapy were done. The pericardial lymph node was markedly decreased. The patient has been followed for 10 months without evidence of regional tumor recurrence.

A Case of the Complete Remission of a Solitary Extrahepatic Bile Duct Hepatocellular Carcinoma without Primary Hepatic Parenchymal Lesions by Cyberknife Treatment: Soung Won Jeong, Si Hyun Bae, Hyun Young Woo, Chan Ran You, Won Hang Hur, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Dong Hoon Lee, Young Jun Lee, Jae Young Byun, Hong Seok Jang; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2008;8(1):92-97. Published online June 30, 2008

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Abstract PDF: A 69-year-old man patient was hospitalized by confused mentality. He had chronic hepatitis B virus infection and was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis 20 years ago. Abdominal CT showed about 2×1 cm sized polypoid mass with mild arterial enhancement at the S4 of liver, causing moderate dilatation of the left IHBD. In the CTHA-AP, intraductal mass was hyperattenuated at arterial phase and washed out at portal phase. Celiac angiography revealed nodular tumor staining correlating to intraductal mass on CT. In MRCP and ERCP, a polypoid lesion was noted at the orifice of left main intrahepatic duct. The patient was treated with cyber-knife for 3 days with 3600 cGy. In follow up CT after 2 month of cyber-knife treatment, there was regression of previously noted left IHBD dilatation and no definite enhancing intraductal mass.

A Case of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis Achieving Complete Response with New Therapeutic Modalities: Hyun Young Woo, Jin Dong Kim, Jung Hyun Kwon, Chan Ran You, Jeong Won Jang, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Se Hyun Cho, Seung Kew Yoon, Dong Hoon Lee, Ho Jong Chun, Byung Gil Choi, Chul Seung Kay; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2008;8(1):124-127. Published online June 30, 2008

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Abstract PDF: A 45-year-old man was admitted for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). He was diagnosed hepatitis B carrier 16 years ago and has not done a routine check. Abdominal CT showed a diffuse infiltrative HCC involving right hepatic lobe with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) involving right portal vein and proximal portion of left portal vein umbilical portion. With concurrent transcatheter arterial chemotherapy (TAC), helical tomotherapy for portal vein thrombosis was done. With these treatments, main tumor and PVTT was decreased in size markedly and no stain in hepatic angiogram. Due to repeated TAC, hepatic arterial stenosis occurred and TAC was stopped. 3 months after, recurrent tumor was detected in MRI. Radiofrequency ablation followed by High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) was done for this recurrent mass. No viable mass was shown in the follow up MRI done 6 months after HIFU.

Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma: Jung Hyun Kwon, Si Hyun Bae, Jung Pil Suh, Ho Sung Park, Chan Ran You, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Dong Hoon Lee, Ho Jong Chun, Byung Gil Choi, Chan Kwon Chung, Eun Sun Jung, Mi Ryung Ryu; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2007;7(1):49-54. Published online June 30, 2007

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Abstract PDF: A 43 year-old-women patient was admitted for one month of jaundice. She was diagnosed hepatitis B carrier 17 years ago and has not done a routine check. Abdominal CT showed a large ill defined mass in left hepatic lobe with inhomogenous enhancement in arterial and delayed phase. The result of biopsy including the immunohistochemical stains showed the combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (stage IVa, type C by Allen and Lisa). With the radiation therapy (3,910 cGy), six times of transarterial chemo-lipiodolization and two times of percutaneous ethanol injection, huge mass was markedly decreased in size and no stain in hepatic angiogram. She underwent left lobectomy.

A Case of Cyberknife Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis: Chan Ran You, Si Hyun Bae, Hyun Young Woo, Soung Won Jeong, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Hong Seok Jang, Dong Hoon Lee, Byung Gil Choi; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2007;7(1):82-86. Published online June 30, 2007

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Abstract PDF: A 64 year-old-male patient was transferred to our hospital for infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without treatment response because of treatment failure and disease progression. He had been diagnosed infiltrating HCC 9 months ago and then treated with three times of transarterial chemolipiodolization (TACL) in other hospital. But, HCC was progressed. Abdominal CT showed infiltrating HCC in S7 and a small daughter nodule in S8 with right and main portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). We performed stereotatic radiosurgery (Cyberknife) for the treatment of PVTT and four times of TACL for the treatment of intrahepatic HCC every 4weeks. The total radiation doses using with Cyberknife were 36Gy with a prescription isodose 80% in 3 fractions over the three consecutive days. After treatment, infiltrating HCC was decreased in size and PVTT was markedly regressed. Response rate of serum AFP was 57.2%. In conclusion, we report the case of good treatment response in the patient with HCC with PVTT after combination treatment of Cyberknife and TACL.

A Case of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma : Curative Resection after Repeated Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization, Systemic Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy: So Yeon Lee, Seung Kew Yoon, Min Su Kim, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Byung Gil Choi, Ho Jong Chun, Dong Gu Kim, Seok Whan Moon; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2006;6(1):38-41. Published online June 30, 2006

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Abstract PDF: A 46 year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of hepatic mass which was detected on ultrasonography. He had a history of chronic hepatitis B carrier. Laboratory findings showed that HBsAg was positive, and HBeAg was negative. AFP was 2,081.1 ng/mL. Abdomen CT showed a large well-defined low density lesion involving entire right hepatic lobe which was compatable with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (stage III). Celiac and hepatic arteriogram reveled huge hypervascular mass at both lobe of the liver. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), systemic chemotherapy, percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT), and radiotherapy were combined as the treatment of huge hepatoma. After combined therapy, tumor decreased in size. As a result, curative right lobectomy could be performed. Six months after surgery, chest CT showed two small metastatic nodules in both lung, so wedge resection was performed. We followed the patient for 5 years after operation and there was no evidence of regional tumor recurrence or distant metastasis.

A Case of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy: So Yeon Lee, Si Hyun Bae, Min Su Kim, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Dong Hoon Lee, Ho Jong Choen; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2006;6(1):52-55. Published online June 30, 2006

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Abstract PDF: A 57 year-old-male patient was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of hepatic mass which was detected on ultrasonography. He had history of chronic hepatitis B and alcoholism. Laboratory findings showed that HBsAg was positive, and HBeAg was negative. AFP was 5.39 ng/mL. Abdominal CT showed large ill-defined low density lesion in 4, 7 and 8 segment of the liver with tumor thrombosis at umbilical portion of left portal vein, which was compatible with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (stage IVb). Celiac and hepatic arteriogram revealed huge hypervascular mass at both lobe of the liver. Chemoport catheter was inserted to the right hepatic artery and intra-arterial chemotherapy (epirubicin 50 mg every 4 weeks, cisplatin 25 mg and 5-FU 200 mg weekly) was started with continuous infusion device. After 3 cycles of repeated intra-arterial chemotherapy, tumor mass in both hepatic lobe were decreased in size and extent. He is planned to be treated with additional intra-arterial chemotherapy.

Four Cases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with CyberKnife: So Yeon Lee, Si Hyun Bae, Min Su Kim, Jeong Won Jang, Jong Young Choi, Seung Kew Yoon, Joon Yeol Han, Kyu Won Chung, Young Nam Kang, Byung Ock Choi, Ihl Bohng Choi, Boo Sung Kim; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2005;5(1):30-36. Published online June 30, 2005

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Abstract PDF: CyberKnife, a new FSRT (Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy) system which utilize a novel, light-weight, and high-energy radiation source, was introduced as a newly-developed therapeutic modality for solid tumors. In this report, we present 4 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with CyberKnife. - 1. Single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (stage II), 2. Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein invasion (stage IVa), 3. Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with metastatic intraabdominal lymphadenopathy (stage IVa), 4. Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with right atrium invasion (stage IVb). Two patients showed complete response, and the other two patients showed partial response without major complications. After the treatment, they are in good general condition under observation at out-patient clinic. The present cases show that CyberKnife can give a chance of cure for small hepatocellular carcinoma and may also be used as an additional therapeutic modality for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Intrahepatic Duct Invasion Treated with Early Surgical Resection: Woo Chul Chung, Young Min Park, Si Hyun Bae, Jong Young Choi, Doo Ho Park, Dong Goo Kim; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2001;1(1):72-76. Published online June 30, 2001

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Abstract PDF: A 40-year old patient with chronic hepatitis B was admitted to our hospital due to right quardrant abdominal pain and jaundice for 2 days. One month ago, he had been treated for acute cholangitis. Total bilirubin was 6.69 mg/dL, AST/ALT level 150/165 IU/L, and AFP 6.7ng/mL. Abdomen CT showed that diffusely irregular tortuous dilatation of IHBD was noted in S 6, more markedly in the peripheral portion, with rather higher density than fluid within lumen, suggesting mucin producing biliary tumor. ERCP demonstrated that a long segment movable filling defect was present at CHD, proximal CBD and posterior right intrahepatic duct. Suggesting sludge and posterior inferior segment of right intrahepatic duct was not visualized with filling defects. At that point we suspected that his diagnosis was cholangiocarcinoma. So we carried out the surgical resection. The pathologic results were hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct invasion. Because of the incomplete resection of hepatocellular carcinoma, TAC was performed twice during the next 2 months. After then he has been taken care at OPD with good condition. This case shows that hepatocellular carcinoma is early detected by bile duct dilatation on CT and successfully treated by surgical intervention and TAC.